Young ARIAS awards now open for entries

The Young ARIAS, a new awards scheme celebrating radio and audio created by under 18s are now open for entries.

Both the BBC and commercial stations will begin promoting the awards from Monday encouraging school radio stations, podcasts, homemade audio projects, community and hospital radio contributors and DJs to enter their work.

With BBC Radio 1’s Matt Edmondson and Mollie King and KISS FM’s new Breakfast team Tom Green and Daisy Maskell on board as ambassadors, the Young ARIAS aim to widen the talent pool coming into British radio and provide an opportunity for young people to access the industry.

The awards will provide young audio talent with a chance to gain exposure to, and a better understanding of, the radio and audio industry.

The winners and the institutions that support them will also be offered prizes such as the opportunity to guest host on a national radio show, mentoring and special school assemblies. The Young ARIAS will showcase and nurture talent and will be promoted nationally on some of the UK’s biggest radio stations.

The awards, sponsored by BBC Sounds, Arqiva, Pure, Fun Kids, Broadcast Bionics and School Radio, will take place on May 17 in the BBC Radio Theatre and entries will close on March 15.

Bob Shennan, Director of Radio and Music at the BBC, said: “Spotting and developing new talent for the British audio industry is a hugely important part of what we do across BBC Radio so I’m delighted to be joining forces with the commercial radio sector for the Young ARIAS. It’s quite appropriate that BBC Sounds, our new digital audio destination, is sponsoring the Rising Star categories in these inaugural awards and I can’t wait to hear who will make the shortlist. Good luck to all the entrants!”

BBC Radio 1’s Matt Edmondson said: “We can’t wait to hear all the amazing audio submitted by 8 to 18-year-olds and schools across the UK. We’ll be supporting the awards at Radio 1 and look forward to meeting the talented nominees at the awards event in May.”

Mollie King, who is Ken Bruce’s Tracks of my Years guest this week on Radio 2, said: “Being a presenter on BBC Radio 1 is literally my dream job, so I’m so excited to support an awards which will help young people get into radio and audio and give them a chance to follow their dreams too. I just hope no one’s too good, Matt and I quite like our breakfast show slot!”

Tom Green, KISS FM Breakfast Presenter, said: “For me, there’s no better creative industry than radio. It’s a career that offers such freedom and I’d love for these awards to help future talent land their dream jobs in radio and audio”

Daisy Maskell, KISS FM Breakfast Presenter, said: “My own path into radio hasn’t been the most conventional, so it’s fantastic that the Young ARIAS are making it possible for any young person – anywhere – to get their first big break in this amazing industry.”

Siobhan Kenny, Chief Executive at Radiocentre, said: “There’s an audio revolution going on, and technology means it’s never been easier for young people to create their own unique audio projects. Now is the perfect time for an awards event designed to celebrate this, and potentially launch fresh-faced radio and audio enthusiasts of today into their dream careers.”

Sean Childerley, Managing Director at The Radio Academy, said: “The Radio Academy is delighted to be able to use the connections we have across the sector to link great young British radio and audio talent with the rest of the industry. The Young ARIAS are set to be a fantastic platform for showcasing the best of what this country’s next generation of radio and audio has to offer, and we can’t wait to see the entries.”